21.08.2026

Yet another!

A lineman was electrocuted last week while working from an aerial work platform in the small town of Henderson in Shiawassee County, Michigan, northeast of Lansing.

According to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the man, 48, an employee of Consumers Energy, was carrying out overhead power line work in the town on Thursday, August 13th, when something went wrong. Initial information suggests that the man inadvertently brought two lines together to create a massive shock, which proved fatal.

Consumers Energy issued the following statement: “We are providing resources to support our fellow coworkers who have known and worked with him and extending our love to his family. We will work with local and state officials to understand what happened.”

A statement from the sheriff’s office added: “At 12:51on Thursday, Shiawassee County Central Dispatch was notified that a man was electrocuted while working in a bucket truck near the intersection of Marion Street and West Henderson Road. First responders, including the Owosso Department of Public Safety, Shiawassee County Sheriff’s Office and Owosso Charter Township Fire Department, arrived on scene. The victim was transported to Memorial Healthcare in Owosso.”

Vertikal Comment

Yet another electrocution from a platform. This year appears to have been worse than ever for fatal electrical incidents. Even more puzzling is the fact that many have involved utility company employees and linemen. If experts such as these are losing their lives, it is a wonder that arborists and general maintenance contractors are too?

One more time- the latest IPAF guidance on how to avoid such incidents is available in most major languages and is free to download!! at www.ipaf.org/en-gb/resource-library/safe-use-mewps-vicinity-power-lines.